Metallurgical apparatus



A. DONALDSON.

METALLURG-ICAL APPARATUS. APPucATloN FILED MAH.19. 192|.

Patented Det. 24, 1922.

Patented @cto E4, 1922,

ARCHIBALD nonnmnson, or K nLLoce, inane.y

METALLURGICAL APPARATUS.

Application filed March 19, 1921. Serial No. 453,624.

To all yifi/0m t may cof/tecra `Be it known thatl, finemente DominosoN,a citizen of Canada, residing at Kellogg` in Shoshone County, and Stateof Idaho, have invented certain new and usefulImproveniente inh/Ietallurgical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improve ments in metallurgical.apparatus for use in connection with the heating furnaces, and

particularly to fume arresters or condensers usedl with zinc retorts orcontainers of the furnace.

In the common practice of treating charges of raw material for theproduction of zinc, a bottle shaped retort is charged with a properquantity of ore and placed in the furnace in such position as to permitthe neck of ther retort to protrude through an opening' in the furnace.A condenser is thenmoved to position tocover the mouth of the retort,and the connection sealed in an air tight mannen and when heat isapplied to the charge the latter is fused the zinc content vaporized,and the vapor ypassed otl' to vthe external ,fume arrester or condenserwhere it is precipitated and formed in a molten mass.

After theretortis chai-eed and heat ap plied thereto, a considerabletime is required to raise the temperature si'ifliciently .to wholly andfreely v-aporize the zinc, but during-this period of time'some of thezinc vapor conveyed to the fume arrester or condenser. Because of thedifference of temperature between the retort and arresten-the latter hasnot reached-the melting point of zinc,.hence the incoming vapor, as itcontacts with the walls of the arrester or condenser, is precipitatedand formed into small particles or drops which refuse to unitevonewithanOther. This lack of unity between the particles l ascribe tothe fact that the particl'es'become coated with a film,

because of lack of heat that prevents amal-` gamation, even after thetemperature has subsequently been elevated to the melting;` point in thecondenser. This lack of amalgamation results in an undesirable product,

usually termed blue powder.

To overcome this defect in they initial` partv ofthe process of.treating the charge of zinc ore, I provide means for preheating thecondenser or arrester', to the proper ineltirmr point, say 680 C.,` andthen regulate and controlthe temperature of the interior et the lretortprQllideSL,

condenser to maintain it at the proper intensity.

While the vaporizing point in the retort is approximately 19000,V thetemperature in the condenser must be maintained at a correspondinglylower point, say 6300. the melting point of zincj or the zinc will notcondense as rapidly as it is received in the arrester. A too rapidingress of vapor to the condenser' will produce an excessive pressure inthe latter and may result in dislocating.; the arrester which wouldallow the escape of the vapor.

To'overcome this contingency, I also provide mea-ns for maintaining theproper temperature in the condenser and for increasing or decreasing thearea of condensation therein during` the operation. These ends areattained by .the utilization of means in connection with the condenserfor varying the condensing area of the interior of the fume arrester,and controlling, regulating, and

maintaining.the temperature of the interior of the condenser.l

In the accompanying drawings I have illustratedone complete example ofthe physicalembodiment 'of my invention wherein the'partsare combinedwith a condenser in the best mode I have thus far devised for thepractical application of the principles of my invention. lVhile I haveherein illustrated a zinc furnace, andshall hereinafter refer to theinvention as applied to the production of zinc ,vapor or fumes, it willreadily be understood that .the invention may be adapted for use inconnection with the condensation ofv other fumes or vapors, and Itherefore do not limit myself tothe invention as described herein.

Figure l is a view showing al port-ion of a zinc furnace and mouth ofthe container or retort therein;combined with an external condenserforming a receiving; chamber or fume arresteraccording to my invention.

Figure 2 `is a vertical sectional view of the condenser at line 2 2 ofFigure l.

Figure is aside view of the condenser having aclosure applied thereto toprevent escape of thel fumes after withdrawal of the condenser from theretort.

I have illustrated my invention in connection With a well known type ofzinc furnace 1in which theretort or charge container is heated', andfrom which the mouth of the as indicated at 2 1u Figure 1'- i supportingand moving the condenser ,5, which is moved to position 1n tull lines l*igure 1 over the mouth of the retort, as an eX-` ternal chamber forreceivingfumes or vaporized zinc produced in the retort. The condenseris made up of suitable refractory material, soi'newhat in the vform oita barrel with a closed bottom and open top, and is located in positionas indicated in Figure l of the drawings. ln 'full lines the condenseris `positifnied to receive the `fumes 'troni the retort. while in dottedlines the condenser is shown withdrawn from the `furnace, `and when sowithdrawn is equipped with. a closure 6 over the open end oft thereceptacle to prevent escape of heat thereliroin.A A. steel band T may`be attached to the condenser, around its exterior i'or Vtaste-ning theclosure thereon by means ot' hooks 8 and pins 9, the latterdiametrically disposed on t-he band, and a handle 10 may be aflixed tothe closure Yfor convenience in manipulation.

In the bottom of the condenser .a usual form of tap hole for drawing offthe molten metal is provided and normally closed by la plug Vv11, and a;peep hole or window 12 is also provided in the bottom `oi the condensertor affording a view of theinterior of the condenser.

At approximately the longitudinal center ot the condenser, and extending`transversely therethrough and through the walls thereof I locate a tube13, also of refractory ma-` terial, and preferably with its open endsproj ectingl' beyond the periphery of the condenser. These open ends maybe closed or partially closed, by plugs 111 ada )ted to be insertedtherein when desired. t will be understood that the fumes arising fromthe retort pass into the condenser, and therein are condensed and form`molten meta-l` that may be drawn olf 'from the tap hole `When theplug,- 11 is removed. lVhile l have shown but one tube in thecondenser', others `may be added it desired or necessary.

By the condition of the tube, the condensingarea oil the fumearresterand the. `temperature oi? the interior ot Vthe condenser arecontrolled.y Thus, with the tube 4open at both ends, as may be assumed.in Figures 1 and the area of condensation of the arrester is increasedtoits maximum and the zinc vapor is formed into molten mass 4in thecondenser. To decrease the areaA et condensation, one or both of theplugs limay be inserted in the ends oi the tube.

The tube may be utilized to increase th temperature oi' the interior ofthe condenser by applying heat to the interior of the tube within thecondenser', land this may be accomplished by placing` charcoal in thetube and tiring it in order that the tube may be1A come a radiator ofheat, or a hot blast may be blown into the tube for the purpose ofheating, it to perform the functions of a heat radiator. The heat withinthe radiator thus formed by the tube may be governed or controlled byopening one or both or' the ends oli' the tube as required. Should thetemperature in the condenser reach an excessive de- ;rreeywith the plugsremoved a spray or jets of air may be introduced into the tube forcooling' the latter, thus drawing ott the `heat as required from theinterior of the condenser.

Thus the interior oi the condenser may be preheated at the beginning otthe operation, and maintained at the required point duriiiig theoperation, and as the operation Ais nearing' completion resultimgindecrease in volume of vapor vand consequent reduction in tempera-ture inthe condenser, the radiator may he utilizedl to maintain `the requiredheat to the end of the operation. In this manner a regulated and uniformtemperature is maintained in the condenser throughout the operation toinsure a uniformity `in the 'formation of `the molten metal in thecondenser.

From the above description taken in connection with my drawings it isevident that l have provided means yfor performing the 'functions and-ztttaining the results set it'orth to be aecoinplishedby my invention.,and it will be understood that changes and alterations are contemplatedand may be made uitliinthe spirit of my invention Without departing;-from the scope of lthe appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim yas new` anddesire to secure by 'Letters Patent is- 1. ln a. zinc furnace thecombination with a retort ol. an external portable fume condenser and`means 'therein torvarying the area of condensation therein.

2. ln a. Zinc liuruaemthe combination with Ia retort, oil au `externalportable lfume condenser, a tubular element in said condenser forming` aheat radiator, and means for varying the heat oft said `radiator to varythe area oit condensation within the condenser.

in a zinc furnacc'the combination with aretort ot an external portablefume condenser, a. transversely arranged tube in said condenser havingits ends opening outside the coiidenser, andfmeans =fojr closing saidends, `'for the purpose described.

elf. A lfume condenser comprising an open end receptacle, and means forclosing` said end`,a transversely arranged tube in saidv receptacleharing its open ends projecting beyond the periphery oi the receptacle,and means 'for closing said ends.

ture.

1n testimony whereof, I adir:` my signa-`

